Process and system for contaminants removal

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a method, comprising routing a bio-oil to a mixing device; routing a wash material to the mixing device; using the mixing device to form a mixture from the bio-oil and the wash material; routing the mixture to an electrostatic separator; and applying an electric field to the mixture, in the electrostatic separator, to separate the wash material from the bio-oil.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 routing a bio-oil to a first mixing device; 
 routing a first wash material to the first mixing device, the first wash material comprising an acid material; 
 using the first mixing device to form a first mixture from the bio-oil and the first wash material, wherein the first mixture comprises an acidic aqueous phase including the first wash material and oil phase including the bio-oil; 
 routing the first mixture to a first electrostatic separator; 
 applying an electric field to the first mixture, in the first electrostatic separator, to separate the first wash material from the bio-oil; 
 routing the bio-oil from the first electrostatic separator to a second mixing device; 
 routing a second wash material to the second mixing device, the second wash material comprising a base material; 
 using the second mixing device to form a second mixture from the bio-oil and the second wash material; 
 routing the second mixture to a second electrostatic separator; and 
 applying an electric field to the second mixture, in the second electrostatic separator, to separate the second wash material from the bio-oil. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 extracting a contaminant from the bio-oil into the first wash material. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-oil comprises crude tall oil or vegetable oil. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first wash material further comprises a processing aid. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrostatic separator produces a clean bio-oil and a contaminant stream, and further comprising routing the contaminant stream to the first mixing device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising purging a portion of the contaminant stream. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising controlling a rate of purging based on a composition of the contaminant stream or a liquid level in the second electrostatic separator, or both.